Chapter 6
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Camelia’s POV
“I didn’t know… I didn’t know, Camelia,” Darell stammered. “Sacha… she’s not like you. She’s not as capable or independent as you are. Every time she clings to me and sweetly calls my name, I feel like I’m needed, like a dependable man.”
So, being a man requires this kind of validation?
His words sucked the air out of me. I didn’t even feel like continuing the conversation. I turned to walk away, but Darell suddenly lunged forward, wrapping his arms around me and dragging me back inside.
He seemed frantic, muttering incoherently,
“Camelia, I do like Sacha, but I love you too. I can’t live without you.”
وو
I shoved him away with my elbow, glaring
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at him in disgust.
“Your so–called ‘love‘ is cheap, Darell. Apparently, you can spread it around to
everyone. What do you think you are, some emperor with three wives and four
concubines? You make me sick.”
I spat the words out, seething with anger, and was about to push him off completely when something caught my eye–a shadow just outside the door.
A smirk curled on my lips as I changed tactics.
“By the way, Darell, aren’t you worried your precious little Sacha will get upset that you‘ re here with me?” I asked, feigning curiosity.
“Sacha won’t mind,” he answered without hesitation, his voice brimming with misplaced confidence. “She’s very understanding.”
Either Sacha had played her part too well, or Darell was simply delusional. Anyone
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truly in love would never tolerate their partner‘ s divided attention.
But I wasn’t finished. I leaned in slightly and teased, “When are you marrying her? Be sure to send me an invitation to the
wedding.”
His face immediately stiffened. Darell might have been reckless when it came to his emotions, but the moment anything threatened his personal interests, he suddenly sobered up.
He sat back, rubbing his temples, before giving a measured reply.
“Camelia, you know Sacha doesn’t have what it takes to be my wife. That role will always belong to you.”
As soon as he said that, I noticed the shadow outside disappear. Sacha must‘ ve overheard and walked away, clearly heartbroken.
“Your darling just ran off. Aren’t you going to chase after her?” I said
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mockingly.
Only then did realization dawn on Darell’s face. He clenched his jaw, glaring at me for a long moment before bolting
after her.
As such, I leaned back against the wall, sliding down to the floor in laughter.
The next morning, as I was checking out of the hotel, Sacha blocked my path at the entrance. Her eyes were red and swollen, but her expression was calm, almost defiant.
“Camelia, if you think you can use cheap tricks to drive a wedge between me and Darell, you’re wasting your time,” she said steadily. “What I have with him is true love, and your petty schemes won’t change that.”
I glanced at her, too tired to argue. “Suit yourself,” I muttered, brushing past her to head to the airport.
I made it onto the plane just in time,
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collapsing into my seat, breathless. As I tried to catch my breath, someone handed me a handkerchief. I glanced up,
surprised, but accepted it with a quick,
“Thanks.”
The gesture felt odd, but I didn’t think
much of it.
When I arrived home, my mom practically skipped over to greet me. Her face was lit up with excitement.
“Camelia, how was it? How was the guy I set you up with?” she asked eagerly.
I froze mid–step, one foot still in the doorway.
“What guy? Mom, I just got off the plane. How would I have met anyone? Are you so desperate for me to get married that you‘ re making stuff up now?”
But she waved her hands in protest.
“Don’t be ridiculous! Of course, I know you just got back. I’m talking about the man who sat next to you on the plane! I
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specifically told him to buy the seat next to you, hadn’t he heard me?”
The man next to me? I frowned, clutching the handkerchief in my palm as a thought crossed my mind.
But before I could react, Mom had already whipped out her phone and dialed his number. She was so quick that I didn’t even have a chance to stop her.
